Cotton-harvester.



v TATTNTTD DEG'. z2, 1903.- fir.;V M. PHILBRTGK.

coTToN HARVESTER. V APPLIOATIQN FILED APR. 4, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1 j H0 MODEL.

'rn-s Nouns PErzns co.. Puofuuno., wAsmNarom n. c.

PATENTED DEG. 22,1903.

J. M. PHILBRICK.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLIOATION'PILED ng. 4, 190s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

K0 MODEL.

Gfrozncg cams Pneus co.. Puoouwo., WASHINGTON. n, c4

No. 747,360. PATENTED DB0. 2z, 190s.

J. M. PHILBRICK.

COTTON HARVESTER.

. `APPLICATION FILED APB. 4. 1903.

THE MORRIS PETERS CO4. PHOTO-umu.. wAsHxNuToN. D. c.

PATENTBD DBO. 2z, 190s.

J. M. PHILBRICK.'

COTTON HARVESTER.

- APPLIQATION FILED APR. 4. 190s,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

- j Ito MODEL.

wi/buena:

m/@M zg? THE Nonnls PETERS oa nNnTaLmjDr. wAsHlNGTomvD.

PATBNTED DEG. 22, 1903.

J. M. PHTLBRTCK. COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 4. 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5. y

N0 MODEL.

-rafehaa necemtr 22, 190s.

PATENT OFFICE.'

JOHN M. PH'ILBRIOK, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

COTTON-HARVESTER.v

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 747,760, dated December 22, 1903. Application filed April 4, 1903. Serial No. 151,078. (No model.)

specification.

Y construction suitable to the purpose.

The invention relates to improvementsin eotton-harvesters of that description in which a blast of air is employed in removing the ripened bells from the plants.

It consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a trans- Verse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse seetional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail plan-view of the adjusting mechanism of .the suction-tubes. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing'the same.' Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the telescopic joint between the suction-tubefand the fan-box. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 6, showing one of the suction-tubes.

The frame carrying the several parts of the machine is mounted on carrying wheels adapted to the purpose, and it may be of any ln the present' instance it consists of the longitudinal pieces 20, connected by the transverse pieces 21. Seen red betweenthe forward ends of the longitudinal pieces is the yoke 22, through theangle of which passes the kingbolt 23, pivoting the main frame to the platform 23', to the under-side of which the forward carrying-wheels are attached. To this platform is connected the usual draft apparatus. On the forward end of the main frame is placed the usual operators seat. The size of the forward wheels is such aste permit them to pass under the main frame to facili- 'tate the turning of the machine.V

The main driving-shaft 24 is journaled in bearings 25, secured to the under sides of the longitudinal pieces 2O of the frame. ends of the shaft project beyond the bearings and have journaled thereon the tractionwheels 26. Toothed clutch members 27 are splined on the main driving-shaft and are adapted to engage with similar members 28, secured to the traction-wheels. tion of the teeth of the clutch mechanism is `such as to permit an engagement between the The The forma- Y' membersonly when the machine is moved in a forward direction. By moving the clutch members into engagement with each other motion can be conveyed from the tractionwheels to the driving-shaft. Mechanism is provided for moving the clutch members into and outA of engagement. of the machine are the bifurcated levers 29, pivoted at their opposite ends, as at 30, to the longitudinal piecesy 20 of the frame. The free ends of the levers extend in opposite directions. Between the members of the bifurcations of these levers are pivoted by the pins 31 the clutch members 27, splined on the,

so as to break their joints, and thereby swing.

the free ends of the bifurcated levers inwardly to move the clutch members splined on the driving-shaft out of engagement with the clutch members attached to the tractionwheels. By moving the arms to straighten them out I'at their joints the .bifurcated levers` can be-moved to cause the clutch members to engage with each other so, that vmotion will be conveyed from the traction-wheelsto the driving-shaft when the* machine moves forward. By the foregoing mechanism the operative parts of the machine can be controlled.

On opposite sides roo In an elevated position on the forward part of the frame of the machine and on opposite sides of the same are mounted the fan-boxes 37, in which are placed the rotary blowers 38. The latter are carried by the shaft 39, journaled in suitable bearings. On the shaft is the pulley 40, over which passes the belt 41, leading from the pulley 42 on the shaft 43, journaled in suitable bearings placed in the rear part of the machine. On the shaft 43 is the pulley 44, and leading from the latter is t-he belt 45, passing over the pulley 46 on the shaft 47. With the spur-gear 48 on the shaft 47 engages the gear 49 on the shaft 50, and the latter is driven by `the spur-gear 51 on the same engaging with the gear 52 on the main driving-shaft 24. By means of this intermediate mechanism the rotary blowers can be driven at the rate of speed required for the purpose.

Opening into each fan-box 37 opposite to the rotary blower contained therein is a suction-tube 53, leading from a point near the surface of the ground. The face 54 of this tube for most ot its length is 'concave and is provided with a longitudinal slot 55. The tube is also comparatively shallow at its lower end and gradually increases in size toward its upper end. The connection between the suction-tube and the fan-box is a telescopic joint comprising the sections 56 and 57 of the fan-box and the tube, respectively, and the intermediate section 58. The registering ends of these sections are turned inwardly to form a tight tit and also to engage with each other to prevent a separation of the sections when the joint is extended.

A carriage 59 supports each suction-tube 53 and is adjustably mounted in the ways 60, projecting outwardly from the machine and secured to the supports 6l, attached to the longitudinal pieces 2O of the frame. On the carriage is the rack 62, with which engages the spur-gear 63 on the shaft 64, journaled in suitable bearings. On the upper end of this shaft is the hand-wheel 65, by means of which the carriage can be adjusted to adapt the suction-tube to its work.

On the carriage 59 is the bracket 66, to the outer end'of which is secured the standard 67. The latter is carried outside of the suction-tube and somewhat in advance of the same. Fingers 68, of spring metal or other resilient material, are secured transversely to the standard. These fingers are placed at such an angle as to guide any plants they come in contact with as the machine progresses toward the concave face of the suction-tube. Secured to the suctiontube in front of the same is the sheet-metal wing 69, adapted to coperate with the spring-fingers 68 in guiding the plants to the concave face of the suction-tube.

From the upper part of each one of the fanboXes 37 a conveyer-pipe 70 leads to a dustseparator 71, mounted on the rear part of the machine. The separator is shaped somewhat like the frustum of an inverted cone, with a cylindrical base, and the conveyer-pipe enters the cylindrical base tangential ly. In the top of the separator is an opening 72 to permit the escape of the compressed air and the dust. The lower end of the separatorconnects with a receptacle 73, adapted to receive the cotton. The receptacle is provided with a suitable door to permit the removal of the cotton collected therein.

It is to be observed that the arrangement of the several parts of the machine is such as to provide a longitudinal passage-way through the same, so as to permit the machine to be propelled over a row of plants without affecting the latter.

In operation the machine travels so that the longitudinal passage-way through the same passes over a central row of plants with the traction-wheels and other mechanism in the intervals between the central row and the two adjacent rows. While passing through the machine this central row is not affected in any way. The suction-tubes, which have been adjusted to suit the widths between the rows, move in contact with the inner sides of the two adjacent rows. As the machine moves forward the ngers 68 and the wings 69 engage the plants of the two outer rows and press them toward the concave faces of the suction-tubes. As the plants pass the longitudinal openings in the faces of the suctiontubes the ripe cotton on the inner sides of the plants is drawn by the blasts of air created by the rotary blowers into the fan-boxes. From the latter the cotton is carried by the air-blasts through the conveyer-pipes 70 into the upper ends of the separators 7l. As the conveyer-pipes enter the separators tangentially the cotton will receivea rotary motion around the sides of the separators and will gradually work downwardly into the receptacles 73, from which it is taken at suitable intervals. While in the separators the air leaves the cotton and escapes through the openings 72 and carries with it the dust that has separated from the cotton. It is obvious that the machine can be operated to pick the cotton from the central row of plants and also from the outer sides of the two adjacent rows.

While the herein-described embodiment of the device is the preferred one, yet it can be departed from to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a cotton-harvester, laterally-movable carriages, means for independently adjusting said carriages relatively to each other, suction-tubes mounted on said carriages and adjusted by the same to accommodate rows of plants at various distances apart, and means for exhausting air from said tubes.

2. In a cotton-harvester, a suction-tube provided with a concave face and having a IIO n ing, a wing projecting from said tube in advance of said face, and guide-ingers placed opposite to said wing.

4. In acotton-harvester, a tan-box, ablower mounted in said fan-box, a laterally-movable carriage, means for laterally adjusting said carriage relatively to said fan-box, a suctiontube mounted on said carriage and connected with said fan-box and provided with a longitudinal opening, and means for guiding plants to said opening.

5. In a cotton-harvester, a fan-box, a blower mounted in said fan-box, a laterally-movable carriage, means for laterally adjusting said carriage relatively to said fan-box, a suctiontube mounted on said carriage and provided with a longitudinal opening, a telescopic joint connecting said tube with said fan-box, and means for guiding plants to said opening.

6. In acotton-harvester, a fan-box, ablower mounted in said fan-box, a laterally-movable carriage, means for laterally adjusting said carriage relatively to said fan-box, a suctiontube mounted on said'carrage and connected with said fan-box and provided with a concave face and having a longitudinal opening in said face, a wing projecting from said tube in advance of said face, and guide-fingers supported by said carriage opposite to said wing.

7. In a cotton-harvester, a fan-box, a blower mounted in said fan-box, a laterally-movable carriage, means for laterally adjusting said with a concave face and having a longitudinal opening in said face, a telescopic joint connecting said tube with said fan-box, a wing projecting from said tube in advance of said opening, and guide-fingers supported by said carriage opposite to said wing.

9. In a cotton-harvester, a fan-box, ablower mounted therein, a laterally-movable car-- riage, means for laterally adjusting said carriage relatively to said fan-box, a suctiontube mounted on said carriage and connected with said fan-box, means for guiding plants to said tube, a dust-separator, a conveyerpipe leading from said fan-box to said separator, and a receptacle connected with said carriage, means for laterally adjusting said vcarriage relatively to saidfan-box, a suctiontube mounted on said carriage and provided with a concave face and having a longitudinal opening in said face, a wing projecting from said tube in advance of said face, guidengers placed on said carriage opposite to said Wing, a telescopic joint connecting said tube with said fan-box, a dust-separator, a conveyer-pipe leading from said fan-box to said separator, and a receptacle connected withsaid separator.

1l. In a cotton harvester,'a fan -"box, a blower mounted therein, a laterally-movable carriage, means for laterally adjusting said carriage relatively to said fan-box, a suctiontube mounted on said carriage and provided with a concave face and having a longitudinal opening in said face, a wing projecting from said tube in advance of said face, guidefmgers placed on said carriage opposite to said wing, a telescopic joint connecting said tube with said fan-box, a dust-separator having a cylindrical portion, a conveyer-pipe In testimony whereof I hereunto affix myV signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. PHILBRICK.

v Witnesses:

HENDLEY V. NAPIER, Jr. Roer.Y A. NIsBET.

IOO 

